High School Football Players Who Hit Referee Could Face Criminal Charges

High School Football Players Who Hit Referee Could Face Criminal Charges

Blindsided official wants teenagers held responsible for cheap shots.

Published September 8, 2015

Downright disturbing.

The two San Antonio high school football players who disgustingly blindsided a referee during a game Friday have already been suspended, but now could face criminal charges as well.

Austin Football Officials Association secretary Wayne Elliott told ESPN that the ref was "very upset" and "wanting to press charges."

"The first thing we want is that those two kids never play football again," said Elliott, who declined to release the ref's name.

The shocking video, which has since gone viral for all the wrong reasons, shows the two defensive backs from John Jay High School blindside the back judge during the closing seconds of a 15-9 loss to Marble Falls.

With the ref's back turned to him, one player gets a running start before leveling the ref down to the ground with a punishing shoulder block. His teammate then spears his helmet into the fallen ref on the field with another uncalled-for hit.

Both players, whose names have not been released, were immediately ejected from the game and subsequently suspended indefinitely from their school and by its team.

District spokesman Pascual Gonzalez told the Associated Press on Sunday that it would hear from fellow game officials, coaches and students during a due process hearing in the near future.

NFL Referees Association executive director Jim Quirk added in a statement to ESPN on Monday: "These types of actions against any game official at any level are inexcusable. We fully support the suspensions of the players involved, along with a full and complete investigation by the Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL)."

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